Double acting steam engine



(No Model.) I 5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. T. CASE.

DOUBLE ACTING STEAM ENGINE.

No. 394,675. Patented Dec. 18, 1888.

N. PETERS. HlolbLilhagmplvcr, Wnshmplon. l)v c (No Model.) 5Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. T. CASE.

DOUBLE ACTING STEAM ENGINE. No. 394,675. Patented Dec. 18, 1888.

I w'llvmooao v a L- I ig v J, @41/ N. PETERS, Pholo-L'nhognpkm.Waibinginm 11 C (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

J. T. CASE.

DOUBLE ACTING STEAM ENGINE.

No. 394,675. Patented Dec. 18, v1888.

Illl'll'llll J. T. CASE.

AM ENGINE.

Patented Dec. 18, 188

5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

(No Model.)

J. T. CASE. DOUBLE ACTING STEAM ENGINE.

No. 394,675. Patented Dec. 18, 1888.

III

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEQ JOEL T. CASE, OF NEIV BRITAIN,CONNEOTICI'T, ASSIGNOR TO TIIE J. T. (ASE ENGINE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

DOUBLE-ACTING STEAM-ENGIN E.

k SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 394,675, datedDecember 18, 1888.

Application filed ly 20, 1888. Serial No. 280,650. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern: supported in the steam-chest, and ports fori Be it known that I, JOEL T. CASE, of New conveying steam to andexhaust steam from y Britain, in the county of Hartford and State thecylinder at its sides, near its opposite of Connecticut, have inventedcertain new ends. v 5 and useful Improvements in Double-Acting Theinvention further consists in certain Steam-Engines; and I do herebydeclare the features of construction for balancing the osfollowing to bea full, clear, and exact descripcillating cylinder, in certain featuresof contion of the invention, such as will enable othsti'uction forlubricating the crank-shaft, and ers skilled in the art to which itappertains to in other features of construction and combi- 10 make anduse the same. nations of parts, as will be hereinafter de- My inventionrelates to an improvement in scribed, and pointed out in the claims.

steam-engines, the object being to provide an In the accompanyingdrawings, Figure 1 is engine which shall be composed of but few avertical longitudinal section of one form of parts, simple in itsconstruction, of great efengine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a I5ficiencyinits operation, and of con'lparatively vertical transversesection of the same. Fig. small initial cost in its manufacture. is aview in perspective of the steam-chest \Vith these ends in view myinvention conwith its ports and rounded bearings for the sists, first,in a double-acting engine compriscylinder. Fig. 3 is a section of thesteaming a steam chest or cylinder casing, an oschest, taken on a linethrough 2 2 of Fig. 3. 7o 2o cillating cylinder located within thesteam- -i is a plan view of the steam-cylinder. chest, and ports forconveying the entire Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the cylinder,steam-supply for operating the engine into taken on the lines 1 0c ofFig. 4. Fig. (i is a the opposite ends of the oscillating cylindervertical section taken on the line y y of Fig. and ports for the exhaustof the steam into 4. Fig. 7 is a view in perspective of the 2 5 thesteam-chest. steam-cylinder. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the The inventionfurther consists in a doublelower end of the cylinder. Fig. 9 is avertiacting engine having an oscillating cylinder cal section of aduplex engine, and Fig. 10 is located within and supported by rounded adetached view showing the relative posibearings on a steam chest orcylinder casing, tions of the cranks. 0 a sleeve attached to theoscillating cylinder In the drawings, A represents the cast-iron andextending through an opening formed in frame or casing of the engine,which casing the rounded seat of the steanrchest, the osis cast in anydesired form or shape, and may cillating cylinder being so constructedas to be provided with a broad and extended base form a steam-tightjoint atand around the for supporting the engine in a firm and steady 35opening in the seat provided for the passage manner. A cover or plate,A, is detachably of the sleeve. secured to the top of the frame orcasing, and y The invention further consists in a doubleplates or coversA A are detachably secured acting engine consisting of an oscillatingcylto its opposite sides to provide for ready acinder providedwithareciprocating piston,the cess to the crank-shaft and its bearingsand o 40 cylinder being furnished with rounded bearthe bearings of thepiston-rod on the crank.

ings, which are fitted to and supported by Covers A A are bolted to theopposite sides rounded seats formed in the steam chest or of the casingor frame near its lower end to cylinder casing, and one or more steambalpermit of access to the inside of the casing r ancing chambers orrecesses located between and. the working parts of the engine located 545 the oscillating cylinder and-its rounded seat, therein. To theopposite sides of the casing and serving to balance the cylinder andreare bolted the laterally-extended supportinglieve its bearing-surfacesand its seat of unboxes B B, within which are placed the twodue pressureand wear. part bearings a a for supporting the crank- The inventionfurther consists in a doubleshaft 0. Set-screws b 19 project through the5o acting engine comprising a steam-chest and boxes B B and serve to setup the bearings an oscillating cylinder located and wholly a a tocompensate for any Wear thereon,

The set-crews are retained in any desired adjustment by the jam-nuts b.To the opposite ends of the crank-shaft are keyed the flywheels D D,each of which has a band-wheel, D, formed thereon. The crank-shaft isdivided at a point within the casing, and to its adjacent ends aresecured the crank-disks E E, which latter carry the crank-bearing E,through which motion is transmitted to the crank-shaft.

F is the steam-chest or cylinder-casing, which is securely bolted to theframe in any desired manner. The steam-chest is formed with open ends,the faces of which are placed down so as to form a steam-tight jointwith the removable ends ff, which are bolted in place, and which may bereadily removed whenever it is desired to gain access to thesteam-cylinder located therein. Steam-chest F is bored out and acylindrical seat, G, formed therein, within which is snugly fitted thecylindrical bearing-surface h of the cylinder H, which latter has anoscillating movementwithin the chest, and thereby serves the doublepurpose of a steam-cylinder and a valve for governing the admission ofsteam to and the exhaust from the cylinder.

I I are steam-chambers formed within the steam-chest and at oppositesides thereof.

I is an opening, which is screw-threaded for the attachment of a pipefor conveying steam to the steam-chamber I, while I is a screw-threadedopening communicating with steam-chamber I, and in which is secured apipe for carrying oif the exhauststeam. It is of course understood thatthese parts may be reversed and steam admitted to and exhausted fromeither one of the steam-chambers.

For many purposes it is necessary to provide for the reversal. of theengineas, for instance, when it is to be used in a launch orsteam-yacht, (for which purpose it is admirably adapted,) and in thatevent a reversing-valve will be applied to the steam and exhaust pipes,so as to admit steam to either one of the steam-chambers, and thusenable the engine to be run in either direction. The steam-chamber I isprovided with two ports, K K. The port K is located at one end of thesteam-chamber, while the port K is situated about midway between itsopposite ends,

for a purpose which will hereinafter be explained. The exhaust-chamberis provided with two ports, K K which are relatively arranged in thesame manner as the ports K K.

L is a steam-cylinder bored out of a metal block having fiat sidesL L,and a cylindrical circumference, h, which latter constitutes the bearingof the cylinder within the steamchest. Cylinder L is open at one end,while its opposite end is closed, (the bore not extending through themetal block 5) and hence it will be observed that the closed ends of theblock constitute one end of the steam-cylinder and against which thesteam acts to force the pisin one direction, while the portion m of thesteam-chest which is adjacent to the open end of the cylinderconstitutes the other cylinder-head. and receives the pressure of steamused in driving the piston in the opposite direction.

Piston N is fitted to reciprocate within the cylinder L, and is providedwith any suitable packing, n. One face, 42., of the piston is preferablyflat, while its opposite face 01 is preferably curved to conform to thecurved steam-chest block, the opening 0 being situ-,

ated in line with the nut n VVheneverit is desired to take the engineapart for repairs or packing, the plug 0 is removed, and then byinserting a wrench through the opening 0 the nut a may be unscrewed andthe piston-rod disconnected from the piston and removed from thecylinder. The cylinder can then be removed from its seat and the pistontaken out and repacked.

P is a sleeve, one end of which is inserted through an elongatedopening, P, formed in the rounded seat 19 of the steam-chest, and isscrewed into the closed end of the cylinderblock. The opening P is ofsufficient length to allow of theoscillations of the sleeve with thecylinder-block, and is slightly wider than the chamber of the sleeve, sothat the latter may freely move forward and backward. therein. Piston-rod N extends outward from the piston, and is encircled by andreciprocated within the sleeve P. The outer end of the piston-rod isconstructed witha yoke Q, within which are supported the bearing-blocksq q, between which is journaled the crank E. The bearing-blocks may bereadily adjusted to compensate for wear by means of the wedge Q and nutsQ which parts are accessible through the openings closed by theremovable cover A A attached to the opposite sides of the casing.

The outer end of sleeve P is provided with a stuffing-box, P, whichserves to form a steam-tight joint between the sleeve and piston-rod andprevent the escape of steam from I the steam-cylinder.

By the employment of the stuffing-box on the end of the sleeve thepiston-rod may be allowed to move freely within the sleeve and besubjected to little or no frictional contact therewith, and therebyallow of the use of a long sleeve which in its operation constitutes along lever for oscillating the cylinder-block within the steam chest.

At the open end of the cylinder the side z fr walls are cut away, asshown, so as to form straight walls R R, which move over the ports K Kthrough which steam is admitted and exhausted from the open end of thesteamcylinder. At the opposite sides of the closed end of the cylinderare located the steam-port R and exhaust-port B. These ports are soconstructed that their lower walls are preferably on the same horizontalplane as the inner face of the lower and closed end of the cylinder.Ports R R connect with rectangular recesses S S, formed in thecircumference of the cylinder-block. Recesses S S form passages whichconnect the ports K and K with the ports R and R.

The sides of the cylinder are rabbeted at their edges, and within suchgrooves are placed rings o 9', made of gun metal or other suitablematerial, which has a greater coefficient of expansion than cast-iron.On the admission of steam to the engine the packing-rings will expandsufficiently to relieve the cylinder of any undue friction or wear, andyet form packing to prevent the escape or leakage of steam.

The operation of the engine may be briefly described as follows: Thepiston having reached the limit of its outward stroke and just commencedto return, steam will be admitted through the port K to the open end ofthe steam-cylinder, the exhaust-port K being closed, while thesteam-port K at the other end will be closed and the exhaust-port Kopen. Steam will then act against the outer face of the piston and forceit to the opposite end of the cylinder. The oscillation of thecylinder-block will close steam-port K and exhaust-port K and opensteam-port K and exhaust-port K and thus admit steam be tween the innerface of the piston and the closed end of the cylinder, and thereby drivethe piston through its outward stroke. I have already called attentionto the fact that the ports K K are situated about midway between theopposite ends of the cylinder, and l that steam is admitted to andexhausted from the inner end of the cylinder (and by inner end I meanthe end nearest the crank-shaft) through recesses S S in the oppositesides of the cylinder-block, which connect with the ports R R at theextreme inner end of the cylinder. and arrangement of parts is twofold-viz., to furnish an extended bearing-surface to the cylinder-block on itsseat around and adjacent to the opening P provided for the sleeve, andthereby insure a steam-tight joint at this point throughout the entirerange of movement of the cylinder-block. It will be observed that thecylinder-block has a curved bearing extending from the port R to theport R, which forms a steam-tight joint around all sides of the openingP throughout every adjustment of the cylinder-block in the operation ofthe engine, and hence effectually prevents any escape of steam throughthe opening P. Another Object of The object of this constructionthisconstruction is to provide for the steam balancing of the oscillatingpiston-block in the operation of the engine. This is a most importantfeature in the practical operation of the engine. I accomplish thisfeature of my invention by so arranging the ports as to insure anextended bearing between the inner end or surface of the cylinder-blockand its seat, and form two steam channels or chambers, T T, in suchcurved surface or bearing on the cylinder-block, each channel or chambercommunicating at its opposite ends with and receiving steam from thesteam-ports K K The channels T T are of such area that, in connectionwith the area of the steam-recesses formed in the bez'uing-surface ofthe cylinder-block, the total balancing area shall be equal to the areaof the piston, and hence insure a perfect balancing of thecylinder-block when in operation. In this way I reduce the wear andfriction of the parts to a minimum, and am enabled to produce an enginein which the steam-cylinder performs, in addition to its ordinaryfunction, the function of a valve for governing and controlling theadmission and exhaust of steam, whereby I am enabled to dispense withthe separate valve and valve-motion 0rdinarily employed. Owing to theperfect balancing of the cylinder-block, it oscillates in itssteam-chest and performs the function of a valve by a very smallexpenditure of power, and is subjected to an almost inappreciable amountof friction or wear.

The following provision is made for lubricating the crankshaft of theengine: The casing in which the crank-shaft is located is filled withoil or lubricating material up to about the center of the wrist-pin ofthe crankshaft when the latter is in its downward po sition, and hencethe crank in its revolution will pass through the body of lubricatingmaterial. To one of the crank-disks is secured an inclined ledge orshelf, U, which serves to elevate a certain quantity of oil and to causeits discharge laterally toward the inner wall of the casing. A cup orother suitable receptacle, U, is secured to or formed on the casing, andserves as a receptacle for the oil discharged by the crank-disk. Fromthe receptacle U the oil flows through an inclined duct or channel, L",formed in the upper surface of the bearing u. A portion of the oil sodischarged flows through the oil-ducts formed in the bearing and ontothe crankshaft, while such portion as escapes at the end of the bearingfalls onto the crank-shaft and is removed therefrom by the wiper it,which consists of a thin shect metal spring fastened at one end to thebracket-collar, the free end of the spring being arranged to rest uponthe shaft and remove all excess of oil therefrom. This excess isdischarged into the escape-channel n from which it escapes into the bodyof oil in the reservoir.

Figs. 9 and 10 represent a duplex doubleacting engine embodying myinvention. In.

length, so as to accommodate two oscillating cylinder-blocks instead ofone. The two cylinder-blocks are placed side by side,- and a ring, if,formed of gun-metal or other suitable metal or alloy, is let intogrooves i 1 formed in the adjacent faces of the cylinder-blocks. Themetal or alloy ofwhich this ring is made has a greater coefficient ofexpansion than cast-iron, and hence when steam is admitted to the enginethe ring i will be expanded, so as to relieve the oscillatingcylinder-blocks of any undue friction, but at the same time form asteam-tight joint between the ring and the beari-ng-sufrace of thesteam-chest, and thereby prevent the escape of steam'past onecylinder-block to the other and adjacent one. In this form of engine thecrank is made double, one crank being located slightly at one side of avertical line which cuts the center of the crank-shaft and the othercrank, Thus the twocranks are so located as to obviate a deadcenter, andstill to cause the two 'pistonsto transmit power in opposite di rectionstothe crank-shaft, and thus subject the bearings of the latter to theleast possible pressure'and wear.

It is evident that many changes might be made in the form ofconstruction and relative arrangement of the parts of my improved enginewithout departing from the spirit or scope of my invention. The engineframe or casing and the other parts may be constructed 'so that theengine may be used either as an Tipright engine, as shown in thedrawings; or

the engi-nemay be constructed to be suspended from a ceiling, or maybeconstructed so as to be supported midway of its casing. Other changesmight be made and hence I do not restrict myself to the particularconstruction and arrangement of parts shown and described; but i Havingfully described my invention, what I claimas new, and desire tosecur'eby Letters Patent, is

1. In a doubleacting steam-engine, the combination, with a steam-chestand oscillating cylinder, each provided with ports whereby steam isadmitted to and exhausted from the opposite ends of the cylinder by the0s cillatory movement of the cylinder, of one or more steambalancing-chambers located between the oscillating cylinder and itsrounded seat, substantially as set forth. Y 2. In a double-actingengine, the combination, with a steam-chest and oscillating cylinder,each provided with ports whereby steam is admitted to and exhausted fromthe opposite ends of the cylinderby theoscillatory movement of thecylinder, of one or more steam balancing-chambers located between theoscillating cylinder and its rounded seat adjacent to the opening in thesteam-chest provided for the piston-rod and sleeve, substantially as setforth.

3. In a double-acting engine, the combination, with a steam-chest andoscillating cylinder,'thelatter constructed with a closed end ingcylinder, whereby steam is admitted to and exhausted from the oppositeends of the cylinder by the oscillating movement of the cylinder, andone or moresteam balancingchambers located between the closed end of thecylinder and its rounded seat, substantially as set forth. 1

i. In a double-acting steam-engine, th combination, with an oscillatingcylinder 11 aving 'a head at one end' and open at its opposite end, of asteam-chest having ports adapted to communicate with the open end of thecylinder, and ports in the steam-chest communicating with steam-passagesin the cylinder which lead. to the closed end of the cylinder, saidports being so arranged that the admission and exhaust of steam arecontrolled by the oscillatory movement of the cylinder, substantially asset forth.

5. In a double-acting engine, the combination, with a steam-chest and anoscillating cylinder, the latter inclosed within the steamchest andwholly supported by the cylind'rical seat in the steam-chest, of portsin the steam-chest and cylinder, whereby steam is admitted to andexhausted from the opposite ends of the cylinder by the oscillatorymovement 'of the latter, and one or more steam balancing-chamberslocated between the 0scillating cylinder and its rounded bearing orseat, substantially as set forth.

6. Ina double-acting engine, the combination, with a steam-chestprovided with acylindrical bearing or seat, of an oscillating cylinderfitted toand wholly supported by said cylindrical'bearing or seat, andprovided with flat sides which engage the sides of the steamchest,substantially as set forth.

'7. In a double-acting engine, the combination, with" a steam-chest andan oscillating cylinder inclosed'within and wholly supported bythe-cylindrical seat in the steam-chest, of gun-metal or equivalentrings fitted into grooves formed in the sides and periphery of thecylinder, whereby said rings steam-pack the cylinder around itsperiphery and at its sides, substantially as set forth.

' In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presenceof two subscrib-

